Bush Criticized Canada Conservative Party Leader on Lack of Support for Missile Defense Program

U.S. George W. Bush late last year criticized Canadian Conservative Party chief Stephen Harper for not voicing support for the U.S. missile defense program, which Washington hopes Ottawa will join, the Canadian Press reported (see GSN, Jan. 25).

“I would hope you’re looking at this in Canada’s national interest and not in terms of partisan politics,” Bush told Harper while traveling in Canada in November, according to a U.S. official.

Harper did not deny the exchange, but added that Bush was misinformed about his party’s stance.

“It was clear to me at the outset of our conversation that the president had been misinformed about our position,” Harper said.

“While we’re all very open in the Conservative Party to this kind of initiative we don’t really trust the Liberals to just negotiate with a blank check.”

The Liberal Party government of Prime Minister Paul Martin has hesitated to present missile defense cooperation to Canada’s Parliament without Conservative support, according to Canadian Press.

One Conservative politician said the party was purposely avoiding coming to the aid of the Liberal Party on the issue.

“Let’s see them govern and make a decision for once, instead of relying on us” (Alexander Panetta, Canadian Press/Yahoo!News, Feb. 21).

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